Government misinformation
This government, on the recent referendum, on immigration and how they have labelled the response of communities, and throughout this Dáil term, have been the greatest purveyors of misinformation in this state.
This government, on the recent referendum, on immigration and how they have labelled the response of communities, and throughout this Dáil term, have been the greatest purveyors of misinformation in this state.
Restriction of Imports (States in violation of obligations under the Genocide Convention and Occupied Territories) Bill 2024 – introduced by Michael McNamara.
Read MoreOn 22 March, the High Court delivered a judgment raising “serious concerns” about the Department of Justice’s handling of information that should have led to somebody being registered on the sex offenders register. It did nothing until until it was raised in the media last week and only then sought a review.
Vulnerable people in precarious situations are being exploited by people traffickers. It’s becoming clear this State is also being exploited by those traffickers.
Following criticism by the High Court of the failure to include a person on the sex offenders register after being informed by UK authorities of a relevant conviction there, I asked the Tánaiste if he had confidence in the Department of Justice and its stewardship.
The EU Migration Pact is comprised of several different pieces of legislation on which the European Parliament voted separately. Lumping them all together into one vote, which will remove the opt-out that Irish people voted for in the Lisbon Treaty, is profoundly undemocratic.
There’s a disconnect between what the Government does and what it says on immigration. There’s also a lack of transparency on key data.
My opinion piece in The Sunday Independent on April 14th, 2024.
I explained to RTÉ Drivetime why I am voting No in the upcoming Referendum on the Family.
Despite regularly citing EU and international legal obligations, the Government fails to clarify how many in direct provision are not entitled to accommodation under EU/international law and says it may not even be able to ascertain the figure.
That figure is likely to be several thousand as it includes the vast majority of those who’re waiting months and years for the Justice Minister to decide on their Leave to Remain applications (after their asylum claims is refused).
The Taoiseach has confirmed that even if the Government referendum proposal is passed it will still be possible to discriminate in favour of married couples.
3,285 people arrived to Dublin Airport without a valid identity document in 2023, down from 4,968 people in 2022.
Read MoreI outlined my reservations about some aspects of the proposed Digital Services Bill in the Dáil today.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has described Senator Garret Ahearn’s criticism of Independent TDs who yesterday voted No Confidence in Justice Minister Helen McEntee as “facetious” and “surprising”.
Read MoreA statutory inquiry is needed into the circumstances surrounding the death of Caitriona Lucas and the investigation into her death.
I raised the need for greater community policing with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, especially in Ennis given the recent increase in anti-social behaviour in the town.
The Justice Minister says there’s no link between the failure to adequately police the streets of inner city Dublin and last week’s rioting and looting. I disagree. One leads to the other. I pointed out the growth in anti-social activity in Ennis of late and called for it to be tackled by Gardaí.
Independent TD Michael McNamara has echoed calls by the tourism and hospitality industry in County Clare for the Government to ensure that accommodation provided to refugees and asylum seekers is more evenly dispersed across the State.
Read MoreThe proposed Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023 does nothing to add to the existing prohibition on obstructing somebody from accessing a healthcare facility or harassing somebody. The provisions around communications and conduct “likely to influence the decision of another person” are unimplementable.
Political policing cannot be allowed. It has happened before and, under this new policing bill, will happen again.
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has said the Government must speed up the introduction of legislation which would ban online gambling advertising and severely restrict the broadcast of gambling advertising on TV and radio.
Read MoreThe Dáil may agree with the government’s funding of, and participation in, the EU Military Assistance to Ukraine but unless/until it does, is the Constitution being adhered to?
Outlining to EC President Ursula von der Leyen the role of neutral, non-aligned States, like Ireland, in bringing about a peaceful end to conflict, I asked that this position be reflected in EU policy.
Drugs need to be legalised and possession decriminalised by the Dáil to take this lucrative trade out of the hands of brutal thugs without delay.
This government is depriving the Oireachtas of any opportunity to scrutinise the laws it is ramming through. This is not just undemocratic, it results in flawed laws that come before the Courts, costing lots of taxpayers’ money, and come back to the Oireachtas again.
The Government has lacked urgency in pursuing quarry operators who sold deficient concrete blocks and foundations. Taxpayers and those building a home in the future should not be left footing all the bill to help the victims.
Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara has urged Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to consider the establishment of a reception centre for refugees at Shannon Airport.
Read MorePeople in Clare are being warned about scam calls appearing to be from local or court service numbers.
Read MoreI am not opposed to public health doctors giving public health advice. I am opposed to extending the abdication of government to an unelected and unaccountable body. It is undemocratic and unsafe.
The Government has confirmed to Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara that the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill will be published imminently.
Responding to Deputy McNamara in the Dáil last night, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said the Bill will begin its passage in the Seanad next week.
Deputy McNamara has previously expressed his support for the short amending Bill that will remove an upcoming deadline to register rights of way.
November 30th had originally been set as a deadline for receipt of applications for a court order to confirm a right by prescription with new rules due to take effect from December 1st.
Deputy McNamara has welcomed the abolition of the deadline proposed under the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Bill 2021, which he described as “necessary to prevent stress between neighbours and to avoid a large volume of unnecessary court cases to register rights that have existed for generations.”
“In effect, every right of way dispute in the country, and many cases where there is as yet no dispute, would be brought to a head at the end of November, ending up in divisive Court cases with inevitable resultant legal costs,” the Clare farmer and barrister added.
He continued, “Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys has previously acknowledged there is legal uncertainty about how the new rules may be interpreted in practice, and that it has not yet been possible to register many important prescriptive rights. These difficulties are also causing significant delays in conveyancing, and in mortgage and farm loan applications.”
“The approaching deadline has been a cause of concern for many people, particularly farmers, and it also has been raised with the Minister by the Bar Council and the Law Society of Ireland,” added Deputy McNamara.
Should the short amending Bill successfully pass through the Dáil, as expected, the law applicable to prescriptive easements and profits will largely revert to the judge-made law that applied before the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2009. It will still be possible to confirm a prescriptive right, either by applying to court or by registering it directly with the Property Registration Authority. However, this will be optional, as it was before the 2009 Act, rather than a mandatory requirement to avoid losing any rights of way acquired through long use.
I spoke on Morning Ireland about the delay in publishing both the guidelines and regulations around indoor hospitality, and the difficulties this is creating for businesses and members of the public.
In order to avoid the perception of political policing, I asked the Garda Commissioner whether he felt additional detail or guidance was needed in the upcoming Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill.
With just one day to go before new rules around indoor hospitality come into effect, nobody yet knows what laws they are going to have to adhere to and businesses are not able to put appropriate plans in place.
Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara has expressed his support for a short amending Bill which he has received confirmation will be brought before the Dáil in the coming weeks that will remove an upcoming deadline to register rights of way.
Read MoreThe Minister for Justice informed me today that an inquiry into the investigation of the death of Patrick Nugent in Bunratty in 1984 will be discussed with members of Mr. Nugent’s family in a private meeting next week.
Read MoreThe proposed legislation on indoor hospitality is being rammed through the Dáil without proper debate. It sets our country on a slippery slope towards similar discrimination being extended to other aspects of society.
I spoke against the Government’s bill to allow for the restrictions and lockdowns to be introduced until at least November with the possibility of a further extension thereafter.
Given the Government’s proposal to extend far reaching and extraordinary emergency pandemic powers, the least we could do is allow for it to be fully debated.
I am voting against the proposed extension of emergency legislation because it allows for the restrictions to basic human rights and ordinary human activities to be rolled over indefinitely.
The Irish Government must use the UN system and its position on the Security Council to address the plight of Uighurs in China’s Xinjiang province and the systematic destruction of their culture.
When a Government knowingly breaches citizens’ rights because it’s politically expedient to do so, it loses the moral authority to compel people to adhere to the measures it adopts.
I asked the Taoiseach if the Health Minister would correct the record of the Dáil where he wrongly said there is no penal provision relating to religious services.
Did Stephen Donnelly even read the regulations that he signed into law, which contained penal provisions relating to religious services? Now that priests are being fined, I am calling on him to correct the record of the Dáil.
Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has expressed “alarm” at new figures showing a significant increase in domestic abuse incidents across Ireland during 2020.
Read MoreThe Health (Amendment) Bill is being rushed to avoid scrutiny. We have been told that quarantine facilities will not be up and running for weeks regardless of whether the legislation is passed tomorrow or given more time for adequate scrutiny.
Read MoreClare Independent TD Michael McNamara has received confirmation of a review the Offences Against the State Acts, which he described as “black mark on the Irish justice system in their current operation.”
Read MoreI spoke about the prohibitive cost of challenging administrative decisions by Government Departments in the courts which puts it beyond the reach of most homeowners and farmers in Ireland.
I explained to the Dáil today why I am opposing the Health (Amendment) Bill.
I questioned the Justice Minister on the use of criminal legislation in combating COVID-19.
I welcome the Justice Minister’s announcement of his decision to undertake a review of the Special Criminal Court. In response to the announcement, I called for a meaningful review in Dáil Éireann today.
We need to have a meaningful discussion about the Special Criminal Court and the need for safeguards around the non-jury trial process, not just another rubber stamping by the Oireachtas. I discussed the issue with Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD and Sarah McInerney on RTÉ’s Today programme.
In the Dáil today, I questioned Health Minister Simon Harris on the ongoing legal basis for countrywide restrictions. The Minister said he would respond in writing to the issue I raised.
I called for justice for Patrick Nugent and his family from the Justice Minister tonight.
I called for justice for Patrick Nugent and his family from the Justice Minister tonight.
The welcome shown by the people of Miltown Malbay to asylum seekers is in marked contrast to the aims of our Direct Provision system, I told the Dáil tonight.
It must be clear to people what the law is around COVID-19 restrictions if they are to adhere to the law.
A recording of my speech in Dáil Éireann today as I joined 49 of my Dáil colleagues to discuss and pass emergency legislation regarding COVID-19.